You should know by now that Shohei Ohtani is having another historic year with dominating performances on both the mound and at the plate ... it's stuff that could only be called Ruthian -- and yet Babe Ruth didn't do it all at the same time.

Right now, on June 28, he leads the league in homers (28), RBI (64), slugging percentage (.654), total bases (200) and other offensive stats, while also having. 7-3 record on the mound with 127 Ks in 95 innings and a 3.02 ERA ... in short, he leads his team in pretty much everything. This kind of showing could mean serious headlines by year's end, too, with that home run pace alone.

The Japanese icon and pitcher-slash-DH's 2018 Rookie Cards are ones you should be thinking about right now as there's been a serious uptick in interest -- and it was already high. But, thanks to there being plenty of sets that year and with him in most of them, there's still a lot to choose from that's not priced out of many collectors' budgets. Things do get quite interesting with basic cards in slabs, too. (Prices should surprise you ... they did for me just prepping this.)

Ohtani, who had a ton of cards during his career in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan starting in 2013, appears on literally thousands of unique baseball cards -- he'll probably hit around 15,000 by year's end or this time next year. More than 3,000 of those are from 2018 alone. His time in MLB releases started almost immediately as he never needed MiLB time and arrived in almost everything in the 2018 lineups from Topps, Panini America and elsewhere -- Rookie Cards, parallels, autographs, memorabilia you name it he's had it all since then. And there will be plenty more to come, perhaps making those earlier cards feel more unique to some ... especially if they missed out.

For simplicity's sake here, we have carved out all of his Topps Now and several other small-set cards sold as online releases as well as Panini America's meaty lineup of Ohtani (about 30 basic RCs and tons more when it comes to hits and inserts). We've also punted all autographs and Relic cards to make this a starting point with the widest affordability and accessibility possible, though there are plenty of high-dollar cards in this roundup.

Keep reading for a rundown of Shohei Ohtani Rookie Cards ... and it won't even be all of his stuff you could dabble with from that key year as there are plenty of cards with RC logos that don't fall under the definition.

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Buzz buys and busts a lot of boxes right here for Buzz Breaks, but one of my goals is to rip a little less and talk more about cardboard that I -- and you -- might like. One way to do that? Simple show and tell -- present a few pick-ups and say why they captured my attention.

So, with all that said, here are a few Buzz Buys ... and this time around it's an oddball edition of stuff I've picked up throughout the last year.

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BERNIE BATTING LEAD-OFF
The Card: Bernie Brewer 2018 Topps Opening Day Mascot Relics
The Price: $8
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This one isn't all that unusual if you know Opening Day's inclusions through the years, but Mascot Relics are still odd in the big picture and mostly only found in this brand that gets a "for the kids" label slapped on it often when it's really one that's "for the collectors." So, what's the catch? Stuff like this has odds so long that you don't see them pop up unless you're ripping in bulk. How rare? This one was close to one in 5,000 packs. There are mascot auto Relics in there, too, at close to one in 94,000 packs. Only seven mascots had these cards in this particular set and I'd argue that this guy might be among the better ones.
Grab a box right here: 2018 Topps Opening Day MLB

Keep reading for more interesting items ...

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Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ... a mix of new slabs and some recent pick-ups.

BIG RETAIL PULL NOW VS. THEN
The Card: Christian McCaffrey 2017 Crown Royale Platinum #88 (/49) -- Rookie Card parallel
The Reason Graded: With the NFL season (perhaps) finally coming, I'll let this guy kick things off since it's a rarer card and one that I figured would grade well but did have some fears about with one of the back corners showing some funk. I pulled this one from a mega box (or whatever it was called for this one) while sitting in a snowy Walmart parking lot back in the day only to be bummed that my autograph guaranteed in the box wasn't there ... it was Panini Rewards points. I was more hung up on that than appreciating this card back then, but he's been a playmaker in the league -- so much so I actually got rid of my Donruss and Optic RCs of him without getting them graded. Instead I decided to slab this one.
The Grade: BGS 9.5

Reality Check: It graded better than I had expected -- I was thinking probably a 9 but optimistically a 9.5 -- and I consider this one a win. It's razor-sharp and clean except for that one corner and on the back it may not hurt as much. Either way, I'm good with this one. Only 12 total cards of McCaffrey from this release have been graded and this is the only for this parallel. There have been nine copies of his standard RC graded and only four cards overall equal this one with nothing higher.

Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.

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This is a new department here on The Buzz ... Fast Five -- a quick list under a simple topic that might offer a basic starting point for a themed collection. It's a basic list of five items that could be fun for a starting collector or a new way to add to a stash that might already seemingly include everything when it comes to cardboard. For some of you, it's probably common sense. For others of you out there, it's perhaps something to ponder.

This time? Five reasons a sports card can be appealing ... beyond just value.

A STRONG PHOTO
We all know a lot of cards from any sports (or non-sports) set from the past that has a photo that's just so clean or different that it stands out from the rest of the pack every time we see it. It doesn't have to be a star, it doesn't have to be a bum ... it's just memorable. Sometimes cards like these can actually command more value than others around it (probably moreso in the years before hits and inserts) but that added appeal can't hurt. The card you see here? It's a simple portrait -- literally nothing but the image -- no design here -- and that's why I chose it. It shows the power of letting the photo have its moment. I own hundreds of Derek Jeter cards that I don't really want or need but the strong photo here makes me want and need it. It's rarer (/100) and from the 2019 Topps Transcendent VIP Party set, but this one would be a card I'd chase if it were from Opening Day. It's all about the photo.

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Are his cards good for bargain hunters? Maybe not now on some stuff ... but there's definitely new interest and some under-the-radar cards out there.

He's Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies and power-wise he's come out of nowhere to lead the majors with 13 home runs after his latest shot on Monday night -- he's one of five players with that many longballs so far this season and it's a surprise because he's not been known as a power guy. Albies had just six homers in 57 games last season and hit just 16 in 390 games before arriving in Atlanta.

This is a change that might spark added interest in his baseball cards.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: A Flawless briefcase filled with nothing but 1/1s ... in a serial-number draft -- and plenty more in today's edition.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Big pulls, big players and a few other surprising threads.

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Shohei Ohtani is off to a red-hot start in his first month as a major-leaguer and there were two ways to see it on Sunday.

One was on the mound where he followed a week of notable home runs with a stymying performance that flirted with perfection, while the other was on eBay where one of his rarer and most in-demand baseball cards carried just as much heat.

The card is his red-ink auto from 2018 Topps Heritage and this particular copy was pulled by fellow big-leaguer and collector Pat Neshek, who sold it on eBay Sunday night for $6,101 after 114 bids. Ohtani made his in-pack MLB debut there with one unsigned short-printed card with two autographs, a blue-ink card and this one, limited to just 69 copies.

But on the field is where Ohtani shined once again.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2018 Topps Series 1 (blaster)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (all formats)
Packs per box: 11 (10 plus patch pack)
Cards per pack: 10
Cards in this box: 101
Base set completion: 
80 of 350 (23 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards of note – Alex Bregman, Ichiro Suzuki, Gary Sanchez, Clayton Kershaw, Willson Contreras, Buster Posey, Yankees team card (Aaron Judge), Dansby Swanson, Francisco Lindor, Miguel Cabrera, Nolan Arenado, Ian Happ

Rookie Cards (10) – Luiz Gohara, Ryan McMahon, Garrett Cooper, Tyler Mahle, Zack Granite, Cam Gallagher, J.D. Davis, Raudy Read, Andrew Stevenson, Parker Bridwell

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2018 Topps Opening Day baseball cards (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (a few formats)

Packs per box: 36
Cards per pack: 7
Cards in this box: 252
Base set completion: 
200 of 200 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 8

Notables on base cards – Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, Ian Happ, Justin Verlander, Alex Bregman, Gary Sanchez, Ichiro Suzuki, Nolan Arenado, Josh Donaldson, Carlos Correa, Bryce Harper, David Price, Kris Bryant, Trea Turner, Clayton Kershaw, Mike Trout, Buster Posey, Jose Altuve, Aaron Judge, Corey Seager, Albert Pujols, Andrew Benintendi and everybody else

Rookie Cards (29) – Notables include Shohei Ohtani, Rhys Hoskins, Rafael Devers, Ozzie Albies, Amed Rosario, Clint Frazier, Victor Robles, Miguel Andujar

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Nothing but big pulls in today's snowed-in edition.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: Iconic cards, big pulls and new brands hitting retail early.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2018 Topps Opening Day baseball cards (hanger box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (a few formats)

Packs per box: 1
Cards per pack: 37
Cards in this box: 37
Base set completion: 
31 of 200 (16 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – David Price, Kris Bryant, Trea Turner, Javier Baez, Todd Frazier, George Springer, Matt Kemp, Ryan Braun, Anthony Rizzo, Albert Pujols, Jose Altuve

Rookie Cards (4) – Clint Frazier, Andrew Stevenson, J.P. Crawford, Harrison Bader

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Sure, Shohei Ohtani has a Rookie card in packs of 2018 Topps Opening Day baseball, but there may not be one that sells faster than one of the cards in the Team Traditions and Celebrations insert set.

It's the Rookie Card for The Freeze. 

Forget the sausage races and the presidential mascot races -- those are so retro. This card for the Atlanta Braves phenom will leave them all in the dust along with a few other cards in the set arriving next Wednesday.

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What: 2018 Topps Opening Day baseball cards
Arrives: March 14
Box basics: No hits guaranteed per 36-pack box (20 boxes per case)
Checklist: Click here to view

What's buzz-worthy: Opening Day returns for its 19th season with an insert in every pack, autographs and Relics in the mix and it even gets a little dirty as you can see above.

Keep reading for more as well as a full gallery of images.

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